1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

So if you missed out on the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar and the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon, then maybe it’s time to finally get yourself on the allocation list for the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. Because there is only going to be 100 of these beauties for a worldwide audience. This is also the only one by far with the A. Lange & Sohne rattrapante chronograph function. As a Lange aficionado, you must be aware of the manufacture’s impeccable mastery of the split second complication, having cut its teeth creating such legendary timekeepers as the Double Split in 2004, the Tourbograph Perpetual “Pour Le Merite” in 2017 and the incredible Triple Split in 2018.

It goes without saying that there aren’t many watch manufactures today that have the ability to make their own split second chronograph, and far fewer who can combine it with a perpetual calendar. Essentially this is the type of grand complication you’ll only get from the top manufactures in haute horlogerie, as you can see by looking at the A. Lange & Sohne Caliber L101.1 and all 631 components that form its magnificent construct, which is even more mind-blowing when you realize everything has been assembled not once but twice — as is the custom for every A. Lange & Sohne timepiece.

What else do you need to know about the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar? Basically this newcomer is the only one in white gold, as both existing variations are offered in either platinum or pink gold.

Tech Specs

Movement: Lange manufacture caliber L101.1, manually wound, decorated and assembled by hand, adjusted to five positions, plates and bridges made of untreated German silver, hand-engraved balance cock
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds; stop seconds; rattrapante chronograph with minute counter; perpetual calendar with date, day, month, moon phase and leap year; power reserve indicator
Case: 41.9mm, white gold
Dial: Pink gold
Strap: Dark brown hand-stitched alligator leather with white gold deployant buckle
Price: Upon request

Lange 1 Time Zone

It was observed in the Lange 1 Tourbillon by cleverly using the small seconds as an irregular shaped window displaying the tourbillon, which is supported by a beautifully finished irregular shaped bridge. It was observed in the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar by arranging the day in place of power reserve and months all around the periphery, with the outsized date remaining in original position. And it was also observed in the Lange 1 Time Zone, with the cities ring encircling the dial and the sub seconds giving way to a second time zone hour and minute display including daylight savings time indication and an ingenious day/night indication ring system connected to the hour hand.

Meanwhile the sub-seconds has been downsized and relocated to six o’clock on the off-centered time display, which sounds like a big move but the entire watch doesn’t look perturbed in the least. Even with so much information packed into this 41.9mm case of 10.9mm in height, along with the addition of two pushers on the side of the case, the Lange 1 Time Zone remains ever steadfast to its core aesthetic.

This new addition in platinum comes with a rhodium-colored dial made of solid silver – a first for the manufacture. It joins the existing versions in white gold with black dial, pink gold with argenté dial, as well as a limited edition boutique-only yellow gold with ivory argenté dial. These models were updated just three years ago, endowed with a synchronization mechanism allowing the time zones to be transferred from the smaller sub dial to the larger one, thus enabling the wearer to toggle between home and local time. At its heart, the Lange manufacture caliber L141.1 keeps it running for a maximum of 72 hours using just a single mainspring barrel.

Tech Specs

Movement: Lange manufacture caliber L141.1, manually wound, decorated and assembled by hand, adjusted in five positions, plates and bridges of untreated German silver, hand-engraved balance and intermediate wheel cocks
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds; home time and zone time; day/night indicator; sub seconds with stop seconds; daylight savings time indicator; outsized date for home time; Up/Down power reserve indicator
Case: 41.9mm, platinum
Dial: Rhodium-plated solid silver
Strap: Black hand-stitched alligator leather with platinum prong buckle
Price: Upon request